1882 COUNTIES OF LaGRANGE and NOBLE INDIANA HISTORICAL and BIOGRAPHICAL

Chicago F.A. Battey and Company Publishers 1882

LIMA TOWNSHIPPart 1

By:Weston A. Goodspeed.* *Portion of the facts were compiled
by John P. Jones, J. C. Kinney and others.Lima Township-The
Pioneers-Catalogue of Early Settlers-The Red Race-First Land
Purchased in LaGrange County-Interesting Incidents-Founding
of Lima
Village-Outline of its Growth-Manufacturing Interests-Village
of Ontario-
Its Industries and Developments-The Lima Seminary-The
LaGrange
Collegiate Institute-First School in the County-Education and
Religion

Lima Township justly enjoys the distinction
of having been the site of the first white settlement in LaGrange County.
Benjamin
Blair, Nathan Fowler, Jason Thurston, William Thrall
and Jonathan Gardner located within the limits of the township prior
to the spring of 1829, and it is quite certain that the first three were
residents of the township in 1828. Benjamin Blair, who moved from
Ohio to Southern Michigan in about August,1828,did
not remove to Lima Township until November or December of the same
year. During the interval he selected his land, now the Craig farm, a mile
west of Lima Village, and erected thereon a small log cabin. At the time
his family moved into this unpretentious domocile, the families of Nathan
Fowler and Jason Thurston were already occupying a small log
dwelling situated on the north side of Crooked Creek, and almost directly
north of Lima.
Both families, though small, were occupying one small room - the only
room in the dwelling. To render the situation more trying at the time the
Blairs appeared, a small child of the Thurston family died, and its corpse
was lying in the cabin when the Blairs first occupied their new home. This
was, unquestionably, the first death in the township. In 1829, there came,
among others, Moses and Ica Rice, William Gardner,
Arthur
Burrows and very likely several others. Among the earliest were Lemuel
Fobes, John Hewett, John Kromer, Thomas Gale,
John
Gardner,
Miles Bristol, Mr.Horning,
Mr.Sinclair,
Nathaniel
Callahan,
Frederick Hamilton,
T.R. Wallace,
David
Smith, Daniel Fox, Almon Lawrence,
Micajah Harding,
Moses
Price,
Andrew Newhouse, Clark Classon,
William Leverick,
Daniel
Davis, Lewis Switzer,
William Adair,
John Adams,
John
and Asa Olney,
Nathan Jenks,
John B. Howe,
Christopher
Cary,
George Egnew, Oliver Classon,Nehemiah Coldren,
Luther
Newton, Elisha H. Shepard,
Matthew Hall, Joshua T.
Hobbs,
Samuel
P.Williams,
John Jewett,
Andrew Crawford,
David
Jewett, Cornilius Gilmore,
Nathan Corwin, RobertBreckenridge, Stephen Corwin, George Latterar,
William
McCoy, Lorenzo Bull, Benjamin Corder, JohnC.
Kinney, Robert Hamilton, William Hamilton, Jacob Sidener,
Michael
Riley, Jonathan Stephens, Sylvanus Halsey,
E.
A. Brown, Abbott Fleming, John Trask,
Sydney Keith,
John
G. Lewis, Peter Miller, Samuel A. Howard,
Jesse Ingraham,
Hiram
Harding, Enoch Layton,
Joseph Leverage,
Augustus Hewins,
Seth
Tucker, William Whitney,
JohnTaylor,
Thomas Lock,
Ralph
Herbert,
Merriam Fox, Joseph Keir,
William A. Mills,
C.
K. Shepard,
Emilius Bartholomew,
Richard Ferry,
Joseph
Kerr, T. J. Spaulding, L. P. Hutchinson,
Jeremiah
C. Robble,
Isaac Wallace, William T. Codding,
Robert
B. Minturn and Dickinson Miller. Some of these men did not reside
in the township except, perhaps, for a short time.

It is a matter of regret that the names of
all the earliest settlers cannot be given. No one seems to have had either
time or inclination to keep a record of early events, and the familiar
proverb, "What is everybody's business is nobody's business," is thus verified.
For an indefinite period preceeding the occupation of the county by the
whites, the site of the village of Lima was a well-populated and widely
known Indian village. Here large numbers of Pottawatomies had congregated
for many years, as was shown by the well-cultivated garden near by, and
the large number of deeply-worn trails which seemed to center from all
directions upon "Mongoquinong," as a local point. Not withstanding the
ravaging effects of time, some of these trails may yet be seen in the vicinity
of Lima; and
where the village now stands, especially the northwestern part, the
corn-hills hoed up by the Indians more than half a century ago are
yet easily traced. The old settlers say that, growing from the sand in
the western part of the village was quite a large orchid that had been
planted either by the Indians or the French traders, or (who shall say
not?) "Johnny Appleseed." The trees, though seedlings, furnished, in some
cases, excellent fruit. From reliable authority, it is certain that Mongoquinong
Village contained an Indian population of several thousand before the white
race had entered Northern Indiana or Southern Michigan. While, so far as
known, the French traders erected no store building at the village, nor
perhaps established no constant trading-point there, yet it is certain
that the French were often there with Indian trinkets and supplies, strapped
in packs on the backs of ponies. These traders were accustomed to travel
from village to village, remaining several days at each point, where their
goods were displayed in some rented wigwam, and sold or traded for all
kinds of valuable furs. As the Indian's standard of the measure of values
differed essentially from that of the trader's, and that of the latter
was in all cases used, it is not to be wondered that the red men were fleeced
to an almost unlimited extent. As the settlers began to appear in Northern
Indiana, the Indians began to scatter and retire, until, in 1828, perhaps
no more than about thirty wigwams were standing at Mongoquinong. Even these
had been removed somewhat farther west, and scattered for some distance
along Pigeon River; in truth, the place scarcely looked like an Indian
village. The large population seemed to have been parceled out among the
number of lesser chiefs, and to have been thrown out upon their own resources,
as small bands were to be found every few miles, on every stream. Mrs.
(Blair) Eno says that her father, Benjamin Blair, during a portion
of the year 1829, permitted Ica Rice to sell whiskey to the Indians
in the cabin of the former. One day a very thirsty Indian pledged his blanket
for a drink of whiskey. The blanket was thrown for safe keeping upon the
roof of the cabin, but after a few hours it had mysteriously disappeared.
The Indian had undoubtedly taken it, and thus succeeded in getting his
liquor for nothing. To make good the loss, Mr. Rice poured two or
three pailfuls of water in the barrel. This was the beginning of quite
an extensive barter with the Pottawatomies at the village. The trade was
carried on through the years 1830 and 1831, in a small building that had
been built for the purpose.
Mr. Rice sold whiskey, blankets, beads,
tobacco, powder and lead, or exchanged them for furs. The Indians were
peaceable, except when inflamed with passion while under the influence
of whisky. An Indian one day became so incensed at Mr. Rice
that he raised his rifle and fired at him, but luckily missed the mark.
They were consummate beggars, and were often extremely skillful in their
efforts to secure coveted articles from the whites. They would quietly
enter cabins without warning or invitation, seat themselves usually on
the floor and light their pipes. In cold weather, they were often permitted
to roll themselves in their blankets and sleep upon the floor by the fire
until morning. Sometimes the floor was covered with them. Many interesting
incidents might be narrated if space permitted. No serious out-break ever
occurred, though an occassional knock-down would take place. At the time
of the Blackhawk war in 1832, the Indians were somewhat excited; but this
was owing to the possibility of their being drawn into the fray, not against
the whites, but against the Sacs and Foxes. In about the year 1839, the
Indians were removed, and were not after-ward seen at Lima, except an occassional
straggler who had sorrowfully returned to view for the last time the happy
home of his youth.

The following were the only tracts of land
in the county entered during the year 1831, all in the present Lima Township:

"At the session of the Board of Commissioners
of the county,commencing May 14, 1832, it was ordered that the county be
divided into two townships, all the territory west of the center line of
Range 10 to constitute a township known as Lima, and all of the territory
east of such line to be known by the name of Greenfield. BenjaminBlair
was appointed Assessor for Lima Township. At the same session an election
for township officers was ordered held on the second Saturday in June of
the same year. Lemuel Fobes was appointed Inspector of the election.
Micajah
Harding, Sr., and William Adair were appointed Overseers
of the Poor; Andrew Crawford and John Jewett, Fence Viewers;
Clark
Clossen and Andrew Crawford, Constables. The township was divided
into four Supervisor districts in January, 1833. Daniel Harding,
William
Thrall, ArthurBurrows and John Jewett were appointed
Supervisors. As the other townships were created, Lima was gradually cut
down to its present size and shape." *J.P.Jones

Thomas Gale and George Egnew
each had a store in the township before goods were sold in the village
of Lima, except by the Rices. As the establishment of the
Rices
could scarcely be called a store, these were the first two in the township.
Both men kept a few notions and groceries and a small stock of dry goods.
How long Mr. Egnew continued is not remembered, but Mr. Gale,
some time during the year 1833, removed his stock to what
is now Lima. He increased his goods until they were probably worth
$1,500. This was the first well-patronized store in the township. In October,
1834, the village of Mongoquinong (now Lima) was laid out by John
Kromer, Surveyor, and Moses and Ica Rice, proprietors.
Lots to the number of 286 were laid out, and eighty-four of these were
given to the county in consideration of having the county seat located
there. A public square was donated, as were also two acres in the southern
part for a cemetery. In April, 1836, Samuel P. Williams, who was
destined to figure prominently in the affairs of Lima, laid out an addition
to the village on the north. He laid out twenty-four blocks of ten lots
each, two blocks of sixteen lots each, and three blocks of eighteen lots
each, and also donated a block for a public park or square. The growth
of Lima between 1832 and 1838 was very rapid, and it even continued to
grow and thrive until the county seat was removed to LaGrange, and various
branches of business had sprung into life there. As soon as the county
seat was established at Lima, lawyers and constables and judges began to
appear. John B. Howe, one of the clearest and most profound thinkers
ever in Northen Indiana, appeared in 1833, and began the practice of law.
Old settlers tell the writer that
John B. Howe had no equal at the
Lima bar in early years for lucid, cogent and logical argument. In the
presentation of a legal proposition, no matter how intricate and baffling,
he could make the simplest auditor understand him. If any doubts existed
as to his unusual ability in this particular, they would at once be removed
by the perusal of his publications on the subject of that blindest and
most complex of all questions -- finance. There is not a superior thinker
in the county.

The presence of such men at Lima could not
but result in benefit and general prosperity. This will more clearly appear
as the reader continues. Among the men who have sold goods of various kinds
in Lima, have been in nearly the following order: Ica Rice, Thomas
Gale, Jonathan Woodruff, George Egnew, Seth Tucker,
Jonathan
Stevens, Gale & Woodruff, John Cook, Woodruff
& Kellogg, Albert Powell, Nathan Merriman, EliasS. Swan, Gale & Williams, Delavin Martin,
Harrington
Bros., King & DePuy, William M. Holmes, Mr.
Case, Kinney & Powell, Richard M. Fury,
H.
W. Wood, Hobbs & Gardner, S. M. Cutler, JohnTrask,
Powell
& Haskins, Hill & Morrison,
Nichols
& Smith, Woodruff & Morse,
Morrison
& Beecher, Jewett & (somebody), Mr.Kane,
Joseph
Wright, J. R. Kirby, H. J. Hall, Mr. McBride,
Mr.
Wicker, Barber & Wolcott, Durand &
Shepardson,
Jewett
& Rawles, Rawles &
Hull, A. Atwater,
Mr.
Searing, Mr. Shoop, A. W. Beecher,
Cooper &
Thompson,
Stephen Cooper and others. One of the best (if not the best) stores
ever in Lima, was kept by Gale & Williams, and afterward
by Samuel P. Williams. It was opened in the spring of 1837 with
a general stock valued at $20,000. The goods were purchased in New York,
shipped by the Erie Canal to Buffalo, transported by vessel to Michigan
City, and then hauled in wagons to Lima, the freight bill alone amounting
to $3,000. In 1839, Mr. Williams purchased his partner's interest
and continued the business on a gigantic scale until 1853, when he sold
out to Jewett & Rawles. Owing to the scarcity of money
in early
years, sales were usually a sort of barter, and from this fact merchants
were compelled to take certain kinds of produce for their goods. Mr.
Williams took large quantities of pork, wheat, butter, eggs, etc.,
shipping the same by wagon to Eastern markets. Live hogs were bought, butchered
and salted during the winter months. Running accounts were opened with
all the settlers whose credit was good, and a large proportion of the pay
was taken in
the products of the farm. Merchants usually went East twice a year
for their goods, and necessarily had to buy at one time enough to last
them six months. Mr. Williams at one time bought nearly $25,000
worth of goods. It is impossible to tell all the hardships met by the settlers
owing to the lack of money. They often came with the most pitiful stories
to the merchants in hope that the later would assist them. Merchants made
their calculations to lose a certain percent of their sales. Lima was the
center of a trade extending over a tract of country fifty or more miles
in diameter. One day, Philander Isbell, of Noble County, a young
man who had married but a few months before, came to Mr.Williams, told
him in confidence that he had no money, nor property that could be readily
converted into money, stated soberly that he expected an increase in the
family soon, and must have a few necessary articles for the prospective
mother and child. Becoming satisfied that the young man had told him the
truth, Mr. Williams gave him what he wanted, to the amount of about
$10. A year or two later the supplies were paid for, and nothing further
was heard of the affair, until a short time ago, when Mr. Isbell,
who is yet living, related the circumstances to Mr. Williams, and
said that it was the greatest favor he ever received from anyone. Thousands
of instances, showing the trials of early years, might be mentioned. The
other early merchants of Lima had an experience similar to that of Mr.
Williams. Delavin Martin had about $12,000 worth of goods, and
several others owned nearly as much. In 1829, Moses Rice erected
a small log dwelling in the southern part of what is now Lima. This was
the first. Arthur Burrows was licensed to keep a tavern in 1833,
it being the first in Mongoquinong, as Lima was then called. Mr J. P.
Jones says the name was changed by special act of the Legislature in
1833 or 1834. Court was held in the houses of Thomas Gale,
Arthur
Burrows, Moses Rice, Mr. McNeal, David St. Clair
and perhaps others. The land upon which the village stands was held jointly
by the Rices and Jonathan Gardner, and was purchased of the
Goverment August 29, 1832. Not more than eight or ten families resided
in the village in 1832, but within four years the population had
reached over two hundred, and in 1840 was probably about three hundred
and fifty. The population probably at no time reached 450. Nathan Merriman
opened a tavern in 1835. The old court house was used as a tavern after
1844, for a time, by Dr. F. F. Jewett; it was finally destroyed
by fire. Henry W. Wood and Warren Lee kept the Lima House
where the Kingsbury House now stands; it was burned, as were all the buildings
on the east side. The loss was about $10,000. The present block on the
east side was erected in 1860, by Samuel P. Williams, John B.
Howe, Samuel Burrows and G. J. Spaulding, at a cost of
some $18,000. Howe and Williams built the Kingsbury House
at the same time, at a cost of about $8,000. Mr. Crandall conducted
this house before it was purchased by M. Kingsbury. Among the Postmasters
have been Thomas Gale, George Egnew, J. Whittaker,
C.
Ward (a man who robbed the mail and was prosecuted), John Moore,
S.
M. Cutler, J. S. Castle, F. F. Jewett,
Mrs.Wicker,
A.
C. VanArnum, Mr.Strong, A. M. Kromer, W. H.
DePuy, Mrs. L. Wicker. Among the physicians have been Elias
Smith, B. Smith, Mr. Alvord, J. McCelvy, C.
A. Montgomery, George Dayton, Mr. Hughes,
George Palmer,
C.
C. Holbrook, W. M. Fox, Mr. Parish,
Mr. Bossinger,
T.
J. Hobbs, Mr. Sanger, William McCue, Mr. Goodrich,
Mr.
Griffith, Charles Thompson,
F. F. Jewett, G. P. Fletcher,
Mr.
Pary, Whitefeather (an Indian Doctor),
Mr.Jones,
Mr.
Arnold and
Mr. White.
Cornelius Gilmore is said to have
been the first blacks-smith. The old jail is yet standing on the southwest
corner of the square. The Cooper store building is quite an old one. The
brick block on the north was erected in 1878. Its proprietors are C.
S. Atwater,
A. W. Beecher and the owners of the bank.